Character Trait Assembly

Tuesday June 5

Please join us for our Character Trait Assembly tomorrow, Tuesday June 5 in the Gym at 11:20.

We will be presenting the certificates for Honesty and the FDK class will be introducing the Character Trait of Optimism.

Day of Pink Assembly

Please join us for our Day of Pink Assembly in the gym at 2:15p.m. on Wednesday, April 11. 

As part of the assembly, the  grade 2/3 class will present a play called, “One” by Kathryn Otoshi.  Please feel free to join us as we explore the effects of bullying and strategies for the bystanders to stand up and say, “No!”

“If someone is mean and picks on me, I, for ONE, stand up and say, No.”

-      Kathryn Otoshi

Time Change Character Trait Assembly

Character Trait Assembly

Our Character Assembly for June will  focus on "Optimism." 

Throughout the month, our students have been discussing what optimism means to them in the classrooms and with their friends in the school yard. Optimism can be defined as follows:

“We maintain a positive attitude. We look on the brighter sides of situations. We are able to see opportunities even in the face of adversity. We have hope for the future.”

 

                                          

All year and every year we educate and explicitly teach our students such life skills, especially the ten identified YRDSB Character Matters character traits of:

RESPECT
RESPONSIBILITY

COURAGE

EMPATHY

FAIRNESS

INITIATIVE
PERSEVERANCE
INTEGRITY

HONESTY

OPTIMISM

We thank you for your partnership in reminding our students what it takes to have good character and how important it is for our children to apply such character traits in how they interact with each other and in the way they see themselves. Together, we can persevere to nurture responsible citizens of the world who demonstrate empathy, kindness and caring for all living things.

We look forward to honouring those students who have displayed the trait of "Optimism” at our awards assembly on Wednesday, June 28 at 11:45 a.m. Parents and guardians are welcome to join us.

April 12 Day of Pink at JVPS

Character Trait Assembly

Please join us tomorrow at 11:30 a.m (revised start time) for our Character Traits Assembly.

We will be handing out the certificates for Initiative and the grade 6/7 class will be presenting the character trait of Perseverance.

Character Trait: Initiative

 Learning Skills & Work Habits

The development of learning skills and work habits needed to succeed in school and in life begins early in a child’s schooling. As students move through the grades, they develop and then consolidate their learning skills and work habits in preparation for post-secondary education and the world of work.

Strong learning skills and positive work habits are often an indicator of future success in school, at home, and in life in general.

Learning skills and work habits will look different in individuals as they grow and mature. Teachers will work together with students to develop the criteria used to assess learning skills and work habits.

The following are sample behaviours which are designed to help identify strengths and support growth of those learning skills and work habits.

This month we are focusing on the Character Trait of Initiative which also happens to be one of the Learning Skills reported on, on all Report cards. 

Consider how well your child:

• acts upon new ideas and opportunities for learning;

• demonstrates a willingness to take risks;

• demonstrates curiosity and interest in learning;

• approaches new tasks with a positive attitude; and

• recognizes and advocates appropriately for the rights of self and others.

Character Trait: Fairness

Our character trait of the month is Fairness.

Children can exhibit Fairness when they:

• listen
• let others have a turn
• ask what others would like to do
• wait while others are busy
• think about others' feelings
• help others
• help out at school and at home 

Character Trait of the Month - Perseverance

What are some ways our students can demonstrate perseverance?

• When you are near the end of a race and are struggling to finish, find a burst of energy to cross the finish line
• Try an new sport or skill that is difficult and don't quit
• Study and work hard to improve your grades
• Help a younger child learn to ride a bicycle or play a new game
• Spend hours practicing to play a musical instrument
• Always finish what you start. Do not give up when things get tough
• Try something again, even if you failed the first time. Remember you had to learn to walk before you could run

Character Trait Perseverance

This month's Character Assembly was held on Thursday, March 31 and it was hosted by Mrs. Kingston's grade 1/2 class.  The students in her class explained what the character trait of perseverance is and ways to demonstrate perseverance.

Children who will be consistently demonstrating this trait this month, will be honoured with a character award at our next Character Trait Assembly.

We are all reminded of the importance of developing positive character traits in our children and always modelling how we hope that they will interact with others.

Here is what the students shared with us at the assembly about defining perseverance:

• Stay with the task and do not give up
• Show commitment, pride and a positive attitude in completing tasks
• Try again and again and again
• Be patient and be willing to work hard

You can encourage your children to persevere and discuss with them ways that they can demonstrate perseverance at school and in their learning.

Character Trait for March: Initiative

This month our students will be focusing on the character trait of “Initiative”.  

The development of learning skills and work habits needed to succeed in school and in life begins early in a child’s schooling. As students move through the grades, they develop and then consolidate their learning skills and work habits in preparation for post-secondary education and the world of work.

Today we had an informative assembly where students watched a few scenarios to explain initiative and they heard a presentation from the grade 4/5 class about the definition of initiative.

Below are some examples of initiative.

Initiative

·acts upon new ideas and opportunities for learning;

· demonstrates a willingness to take risks;

· demonstrates curiosity and interest in learning;

· approaches new tasks with a positive attitude;

· and recognizes and advocates appropriately for the rights of self     and others. 

All of us, teachers, students and parents/guardians will work together to set goals for developing  the learning skill of Initiative. The goals listed below can form a “to do list” or a “success criteria list” for our students to follow:

ü  I will take turns  

ü  I will challenge myself to improve

ü  I will initiate play with others appropriately

ü  I will choose an activity independently

ü  I will make an effort to try

ü  I will include other in group work

ü  I will show an interest in learning

ü  I will show leadership in my group

At home, you can help to support your child’s growth in Initiative by giving them a task to complete that they may never have tried before, for example:

·    cooking a new recipe,

·    helping with a mechanical task

·    helping to plan out an activity for the family

and note whether her or she does so with a positive attitude and how innovative, curious and interested they are in the task given. Also pay attention to how well your child advocates for him/her self and for others over the March break.